Eraviputhenthurai
| Eraviputhenthurai இரவிபுத்தன்துறை Puthenthurai , E.P.Thurai | |
|---|---|
| Village | |
  Eraviputhenthurai Location in Tamil Nadu, India | |
| Coordinates: 8°15′57″N 77°8′9″E / 8.26583°N 77.13583°ECoordinates: 8°15′57″N 77°8′9″E / 8.26583°N 77.13583°E | |
| Country |
 India |
| State | Tamil Nadu |
| District | Kanyakumari |
| Population | |
| • Total | 10,087 |
| Languages | |
| • Official | Tamil, Malayalam |
| Time zone | IST (UTC+5:30) |
| PIN | 629176 |
| Telephone code | 04651 |
| Vehicle registration | TN 75 |
Eraviputhenthurai is a village on the coast of the Arabian Sea, in Thoothoor Village Panchayat, Vilavancode Taluk, Kanyakumari District, Tamil Nadu India.
It is 48 kilometres (30 mi) west of Nagercoil, the headquarters of Kanyakumari District and 45 km south-east of Thiruvananthapuram, the capital of Kerala State. The nearest airport is Thiruvananthapuram, and nearest railway stations are Parassala and Kuzhithurai .
This village is bounded in the north by the A.V.M [Anantha Victoria Marthandam] Canal, south by the Arabian Sea, east by Chinnathurai village and west by Thadeupuram village.
Education and services
St. Joseph Middle School is managed by Eraviputhenthurai Parish, and is affiliated to State Board. The St. Catherine Pre-Kindergarten School was managed by the Parish. Nursery Schools are run by Central and State Governments. They also serve nearby villages. Eraviputhenthurai's literacy rate is higher than that of neighboring villages. Subjects include Computer Engineering, Medicine, Information Technology, Teaching, Arts, Science, Marine Engineering, Sports, etc.
Service organizations include St. Catherine Library and Sports Club, St. Francis Animation and Social Center, Eraviputhenthurai Football Association, Thiruvananthapuram Social Service Society [T.S.S.S.] Unit, Kottar Social Service Society [K.S.S.S.] Unit, Southern Catholic Youth Movement [S.C.Y.M.] Unit, Society of St. Vincent De Paul.
Economy
Fishing is the primary occupation. The primary fishery is sharks, using traditional and modern methods, including mechanised boats and long lining. Voyages last up to 30 days. Vessels travel to Porbandar, Mumbai, Ratnagiri, Gareware, Goa, Mangalore, Kochi, Neendakara, Vizhinjam, Kanyakumari, Chennai, Vishakapattanam, Paradeep and so on. Eraviputhenthurai fishermen in lieu of their shark catching techniques are known all over the world. The by-products of shark are shark fin, shark flesh, shark liver oil and shark teeth. From this village, about 100 boats are engaged in shark fishing.
History
The History of Eraviputhenthurai can be traced from the Legend. In the 16th century this region was ruled by King Kalinga. People say that this village changed after the legendary story happened in the Kingdom of Kalinga. Kalinga arranged marriage for his daughter. He invited well wishers from everywhere and also invited Mother Sea, who instructed him in a dream that if she came, the kingdom would be no more. But the king compelled her to attend. In return Mother Sea sent a Tsunami in the 16th century which destroyed his dynasty.
After some years King Swathi Thirunal Rama Varma decided to make this village the capital calling it Aadhithyanthurai (Aadhithya-name of King Aadhithya Varma, King’s father and Thurai—Coastal Village).
Later in the 19th century Maharaja Marthanda Varma succeeded Swathi Thirunal Rama Varma. The Varma's reign was an important stage in the history of Travancore. Marthanda Varma’s policy towards the Dutch and English had no support from his own people and was obliged to depend on foreign mercenaries. The armies which led him to victory owed their efficiency and fighting skill to Flemish soldier D’Lannoy’s discipline, who built Travancore forts after he was taken captive at the battle of Colachel.
When Marthanda Varma ascended the ancestral throne the Dutch were powerful in the east. They had settlements in the Pacific and the Indian oceans and a number of fortified places in Ceylon and the Coromandel and Malabar Coasts. Most Malabar rulers were under their influence while some were their acknowledged vassals. Varma's successes flowed from a steady policy of national political expansion. The suppression of the Poligars of Tinnevelly and the buttressing of the authority of the Nawab of the Carnatic were achieved by the East India Company with the active help of the Maharaja who sent large armies to fight the enemy at Vasudevanallur, Nellithankavila and many another places. However, the Maharaja was obliged to recognize the formal precedence of the Nawab.
King Uthram Thirunal Marthanda Varma planned to dig a canal from Poovar to Eraiyumenthurai connecting river Neyyar in Poovar and river Tamirabarani in Eraiyumenthurai. In 1860 he named the canal AVM canal (Ananhta Victoria Marthanda Varma) canal. Here Anantha stands for King Anantha Varman—Father of UTM Varman, Victoria refers to Queen Victoria who ruled over India during this time and Marthanda refers to Marthanda Varman, the King. Soon after this the King constructed the first Bridge above this canal for free traveling and named it Aadhithyanthurai Bridge which still remains, ruined at E.P.Thurai Edappadu, justifying the History.
Later an epidemic took many lives. Many people moved towards east and settledown there and called that village as Puthenthurai (Puthen-New., Thurai- Coastal Village)
Later on Puthenthurai was attacked by great tsunamis and many people lost their lives. During this flood a soldier named Eravikuttipilla helped to rescue many people so the people named the village Eraviputhenthurai.
Portuguese missionaries invaded this village and built a Church under the Patronage of Saint Catherine of Alexandria. People were very much happy to call this village honoring the Patroness as Santacatherinaputhenthurai (Stcatherineputhenthurai.).
St. Catherine Church
The Catholic Church plays a vital role in the day-to-day life of Eraviputhenthurai. The village's conversion may be traced back to not later than A.D. 1544 when St. Francis Xavier converted nearly 10,000 Mukkuvars (fishermen and women) living in thirteen villages along the coast from Pallam to Poovar. Immediately thereafter they pulled down their Hindu temple and idols. A cross was built and thatches were made for worship. In due course, they were converted into churches.
In 1600, the existing Thoothoor Parish Church was brought under the Padroado. Thoothoor Parish came under the Diocese of Cochin. In 1838, St. Thomas Church, Thoothoor and other adjacent coastal Churches from Pallithura to Erayumanthurai were brought under the Diocese of Varapuzha. Ultimately Thoothoor was brought under the Diocese of Cochin in 1850.
Under the Diocese of Cochin St. Catherine Church was Built at Adthiyanthurai (Eraviputhenthurai). The Patroness was St. Catherine of Alexandria. The church was constructed by English missionaries. Later in the 19th century this village was flooded. The new village was named Puthenthurai (Puthen =New.,Thurai = Coastal Village). The name of the village became Santa Catherina Puthenthurai)(St catherineputhenthurai).
In the 1860s a new Church was constructed, followed by another in 1886. The tower of this Church was destroyed by a storm. In the middle of the 20th century, Rev. Fr. Rayyapan Parithyal started to build another new Church. In 1968 Rev. Fr. Francis Neetany wanted to reconstruct the Altar, which was completed on February 4, 1990. It was blessed by Rt. Rev. Dr. Soosai Pakiyam.,Bishop Of Diocese Trivandrum.
In 2003 the tower was destroyed by a storm. Maintenance was started in 2003 by Rev. Fr. Stansilaus Theesmas and completed during the period of Rev. Fr. John Churchil Bas on November 2004.
St. Joseph's Shrine
In 1972, Dennis Kanakkapillai initiated to construct a Shrine for St. Joseph at Eravipuithenthurai. Mr. Alphonse Pirisant cooperated with him for the construction work and provided the fund for construction . They opened the Shrine that year and it was blessed by Rev. Fr. Francis Neetany.
Later on reconstruction was started during the period of Rev. Fr. John Churchil Bas in 2004. The Face for the Shrine was planned by Mr. Robert Singh of Eraviputhenthurai. The work was started and new Shrine was opened on 1 May 2005 by Rev. Dr. Youhannon Mar Chrisostom, Bishop of Marthandam.
Asha Sagar Convent
Eraviputhenthurai comes under the Archdiocese of Thiruvananthapuram. Asha Sagar was started in the year 1997 with two Sisters. Their congregation is Sisters of Charity of Bartoloma Capitanio and Vincenza Gerosa. At first the convent was an offshoot of Vallavila. On April 4, 2002 it became an independent community. Many sisters worked hard for the promotion of social life. The main activity is Socio-Pastoral work. It is carried out by teaching Catechism, supporting the Legion of Mary, The Little Way Association, Jesus Youth and Altar Boys. One sister is teaching in the Parish nursery with the help of T.S.S.S, and one sister is teaching in the parish school and also teaching evening tuition for the poor students.
Sisters are very active in pastoral work, taking care of church linen and also preparing the children for first communion and confirmation.
Organisations in Eraviputhenthurai
Spiritual Services
St. Catherine's Church, St. Joseph's Shrine, New Life Retreat Center, Asha Sager Convent
Institutions
St. Joseph's Middle School, St. Catherine's Pre Kindergarten, Asha Sagar Pre Primary School, St. Joseph's Evening Tuition, School for Intellectually disabled, Nursery School.
Organisations
Coastal People Organisation, Eraviputhenthurai Boat Union.
Associations
Kombriya Sabai, CLC, Basic Christian Community, Legion of Mary, Alter Boys, Society of Saint Vincent De Paul, Southern Catholic Youth Movement, Jesus Youth, Little Way Association.
Clubs
Eraviputhenthurai Football Association, St. Catherine FC, St. Catherine Library, St. Francis Arts and Sports Club & Library - St. Francis Animation and Social Centre.
Transportation
Air Nearest Airport Thiruvananthapuram International Airport 41.7 km
Railways Station Nearest Railway Station is (PASA) Parassala(11.2 km) Second Nearest(KZT) Kuzhithurai (15.6 km) Thiruvananthapuram Central Railway station (TVC) (38.9 km) Nagercoil Junction Railway station (NCJ) (43.5 km)